Toe iron for safety ski bindings

ABSTRACT

A toe-backing member movable relative to the ski and extending at right angles to the surface of the ski to resiliently take up harmless lateral shocks. The backing element comprises a flexible endless band, which extends around at least one retaining member, which is carried by a part that is secured to the ski.

United States Patent 3,589,743

[72] Inventor Hannes Marker [50] Field of Search 280/1 L35 Haupstr.5l-53, 8l Garmisch- H, 11.35 A Partenkirchen, Germany 21 '1 Appl. No791,548 L5 1 References Cited [22] Filed 1 Jan. 13, 1969 UNITED STATESPATENTS 1 Patented June 29,1971 3,348,856 10/1967 Marker 280/1 1.35

[32] Priority Jan. 22, I968 [33] Germany Primary Examiner-Kenneth H.Betts 31 1 p 16 78 2783 Assistant Examiner-Robert R. Song Attorney-Fleit, Gipple & Jacobson ABSTRACT: A toe-backing member movable relativeto the ski and extending at right angles to the surface of the ski to,[54] TOE IRON FOR SAFETY SKI BINDINGS resiliently take up harmlesslateral shocks. The backing ele- 5 Claims 9 Drawing Figs ment comprisesa flexible endless band, which extends around [521 [1.8. CI. 280/1 1.35at least one retaining member, which is carried by a part that is [51 1Int. Cl A631: 9/00 secured to the ski.

TOE IRON FOR SAFETY SKI BINDINGS The present invention relates to toeirons for safety ski bindings, which toe irons comprise a toe-backingelement, which is movable relative to the ski, extends at right anglesto the surface of the ski, and resiliently takes up harmless lateralshocks.

Various types of such toe irons are known. In one known design, thebacking element consists also of a sole holder, which is pivotallymounted on a vertical pin. In another design, the backing elementconsist also of a sole holder, which is first movable transversely tothe longitudinal direction of the ski and is subsequently movable towardthe tip of the ski. In the second design, the backing element isresiliently held to absorb shock in its normal position. In the knowntoe irons of the design described first, the backing element isresiliently held or is held quasi-rigidly in its normal position unlessthe deflecting force exceeds a predetermined limit. The release functionof all these toe irons is impaired by the high friction between the toeportion of the skiing boot and the backing element. This disadvantage isparticularly undesirable in shock-absorbing toe irons where the skiingboot is forced against the backing element and automatically follows themovement performed by the sole holder in response to a force acting in areleasing sense transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ski.If such force decreases without having caused a release, the skiing bootmust be moved back. It has been found in practice that the restoringforce of the toe irons is not sufficient for this purpose so that theskiing boot is caught in the binding in an oblique position relative tothe ski and as a rule a fall results.

It is an object of the invention to improve a toe iron of the kind firstpreviously described so that there is virtually no friction between thetoe portion of the skiing boot and the backing element for the same.

In a toe iron for safety ski bindings,

may be guided along a straight or convex or concave line which toe ironcom-' prises a toe-backing element, which is movable relative to thetransversely to the longitudinal direction of the ski on that side ofthe band which contacts the toe of the skiing boot.

The band is preferably provided on its periphery with at least oneoutwardly directed extension, which ensures a positive coupling during apivotal movement of the toe portion of the boot. If a single extensionis provided, the same is disposed in the central vertical longitudinalplane in the normal position of the band. The sole of the boot issuitably provided with a notch for cooperating with that extension.

In a development of the inventive concept just described, the band maybe provided with two extensions, which laterally embrace the toe portionofthe boot.

Particularly if the band has a nonconcave configuration on thetoe-contacting side, it has been found desirable to provide a springelement which is arranged to oppose a movement of the band out ofitsnormal position.

If the band has a nonconcave configuration on the toe-contacting side,the retaining members for the band consist preferably of rollers, whichare mounted on vertical pins that are secured to the ski.

It has proved particularly desirable to provide a baseplate and a coverplate, which guide the band between them, the cover plate protrudingbeyond the band on the side which faces the toe of the boot so that thecover plate prevents also a lifting of the sole of the boot from theski.

In a special development of the toe iron according to the invention, theretaining member for the band may be pivotally mounted on a verticalpin, which is secured to the ski. In this case, the toe iron may bedesigned as a so-called double-pivot toe iron, which collapses inresponse to a twisting force that is dangerous to the leg of the skier.This collapse ensures an extremely quick release of the toe portion ofthe skiing boot.

According to a development of the invention, the lifting of the sole ofthe boot from the ski is prevented by simple means in that the band isprovided with at least an approximately horizontal flange at least onthat portion of the band which normally faces the toe portion of theskiing boot and said flange serves to overlie the top of the toe portionof the sole of the boot. In order to avoid a restriction of the freedomof movement of the band on the retaining member or members by the flangeas well as an elongation of the flange material beyond the elasticlimit, the flange may be formed with incisions.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described more fully and by wayof example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIGS. 1to 3 are top plan views showing different embodiments of the endlessbacking band according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through a toe iron on lineIV-IV of FIG. 5.-

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken through the toe iron on line V-V ofFlG.4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 5 and taken through atoe iron according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view showing another embodiment of a toe iron.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are sectional views taken on lines VIIIVIII and IX-IX,respectively, of FIG. 7.

According to the present invention, the toe-backing element consists ofa flexible endless band, which extends around at least one retainingelement, which is mounted on a partthat is secured to the ski. FIG. 1shows an arrangement of the endless bandl. This band extends around tworeversing rollers 2 and 3, which are mounted on pins 4 and 5,respectively, which are, e.g., riveted to a baseplate, not shown. Thebaseplate is adapted to be connected to the ski 6 by screws. Thedistance between the two reversing rollers 2 and 3 is so selected thatthe toe portion of the skiing boot is capable of a sufficiently largedamped movement toward'both sides so that harmless lateral shocks can betaken up resiliently. In this embodiment, that course of the band 1which backs the toe portion of the skiing boot extends along a straightline which is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ski.

In order to avoid a deflection of this course of the belt toward the tipof the ski under the pressure of the toe portion of the skiing boot,baking rollers 7 are provided between the two reversing rollers 2' and 3and like the latter are freely rotatably mounted on pins 8, which aresecured to the baseplate of the toe iron.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the rollers 2, 3 and 7 are omittedand the retaining member for the endless band 9 consists ofa shapedmember 10, which extends vertically from the baseplate (not shown) ofthe toe iron. In this case, that course of the band which contacts thetoe portion of the skiing boot bears on the shaped member throughout itslength. For this purpose, the shaped member is formed with a convexbacking surface so that the band course extends slightly laterally andslightly forwardly toward the tip of the ski 6 on both sides of thecenter.

The same course of the band has an inverted configuration in theembodiment shown in FIG. 3, where the shaped member 12 for retaining theband has a concave toe-contacting surface. The toe-contacting course ofthis band has on its inside a longitudinal rib 13, which isdovetail-shaped in cross section. The shaped member is provided with twocentral retaining lugs 14, which contact the dovetail-shaped rib of theband on top and bottom so as to guide the band.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a toe iron according to the invention, in which theband 15 is provided on its periphery with two extensions I6 and 17,which serve to laterally embrace the toe portion of the boot. Theretaining member for the band consists of a shaped member 18, which hasa horizontal wall forming the baseplate 19 of the toe iron. Thatbaseplate is connected to the ski by screws, not shown.

The band is guided between the baseplate l9 and a cover plate 20, whichis detachably mounted on the shaped member. The cover plate protrudesbeyond the toe-contacting course of the band and thus prevents a liftingof the sole of the boot from the ski.

The baseplate 19 of the shaped memberl8 carries a central vertical pin21, on which a torsion spring 22 is fitted. The pin has at its free enda tapped axial hole 23, which is in threaded engagement with a screw forholding the cover plate 20. The upper edge of that wall of the shapedmember 18 which is directed toward the tip of the ski has two recesses24 and 25, through which respective arms 26 and 27 extend. Each of thesearms is formed by one end portion of the spring. A central stop isprovided between the two recesses and engageable by the spring arms. Theband has a driver rib 29, which extends between the two spring arms 26and 27 so that the movement of the band to both sides is opposed by theforce of the spring 22. Upon a decrease of the force which istransmitted to the band from the toe portion of the boot, the same isreturned to its normal position by the spring 22.

FIG. 6 shows a toe iron in an embodiment which is slightly modified fromthat of FIG. 5. In this embodiment, the two extensions 16 and 17 of theband 15 are omitted and only one extension 31 is provided on the band 30which serves to ensure a positive transmission of movement during thepivotal movement of the toe portion of the boot. The sole of the boot issuitably provided with a notch for cooperating with that extension.Besides, the design is exactly the same as that described before so thatthe description need not be repeated. The same reference characters areused for like parts.

The flexible endless bands according to the invention consist either ofplastic material having a low coefficient of friction or are coated onthe inside with antifriction material.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show a toe iron in which the band 41 extends around tworeversing rollers 42 and 43, just as in the arrangement shown in FIG. 1.These rollers are mounted on pins 44 and 4, respectively, which are heldby suitable means in or on a baseplate 46. Backing rollers 47 aredisposed between the two reversing rollers and are also secured to thebaseplate by pins 48. The toe-contacting course of the band 41 has ahorizontal flange 49 (see particularly FIGS. 8 and 9), which serves tooverlie the top of the toe portion of the sole of the skiing boot andthus prevents a lifting of the sole from the ski. The flange 49 isformed with incisions 50 in such a number that the band 41 can bereliably reversed.

What I claim is:

l. A toe iron for safety ski bindings comprising a toebacking element,said toe-backing element being moveable relative to the ski,substantially transverse to its longitudinal direction and extending atright angles to the surface of the ski, to resiliently take up harmlessshocks, said toe-backing element comprising a flexible endless bandwhich extends around at least one retaining member, said retainingmember being carried by a part which is secured to the ski.

2. A toe iron according to claim 1, wherein each retaining member forthe band comprises a roller, each of said rollers being mounted on avertical pin secured to the ski.

3. A toe iron according to claim 1, wherein the band is guided between abaseplate and a cover plate, said cover plate protruding beyond the bandon the side facing the toe portion of the boot.

4. A toe iron according to claim 1, wherein the band consists of plasticmaterial having a low coefficient of friction.

5. A toe iron according to claim 1, wherein the band is coated on theinside with antifriction material.

1. A toe iron for safety ski bindings comprising a toe-backing element,said toe-backing element being moveable relative to the ski,substantially transverse to its longitudinal direction and extending atright angles tO the surface of the ski, to resiliently take up harmlessshocks, said toe-backing element comprising a flexible endless bandwhich extends around at least one retaining member, said retainingmember being carried by a part which is secured to the ski.
 2. A toeiron according to claim 1, wherein each retaining member for the bandcomprises a roller, each of said rollers being mounted on a vertical pinsecured to the ski.
 3. A toe iron according to claim 1, wherein the bandis guided between a baseplate and a cover plate, said cover plateprotruding beyond the band on the side facing the toe portion of theboot.
 4. A toe iron according to claim 1, wherein the band consists ofplastic material having a low coefficient of friction.
 5. A toe ironaccording to claim 1, wherein the band is coated on the inside withantifriction material.